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Soupçon actually means “suspicion” and the reason nobody called me out on this is because I would use the word to imply the idea of something sprinkled on top of something else ala croutons. If someone said, “A soupçon of homoeroticism,” I thought it meant “Someone sprinkled homoeroticism on this story like croutons on a delightful Caesar salad.”

I wrote multiple essays that used soupçon as a noun with this translation in mind and I got a degree and this haunts me.

Via gazettenet.com

Trans Day of Remembrance is filled to the brim with the names of murdered Black and brown trans women, but is a single evening of remembering enough? And what does it mean that TDoR doesn’t explicitly talk about race and is often dominated by white people? Here in Austin there’s this tradition of calling the names of the dead and then having an audience member sit in a chair that represents where the dead trans woman would sit. The seats are always filled with white people and non-trans women. What do our deaths mean when we our bodies, our lives, the physical space we take up, is appropriated by white folks? How can I mourn for my sisters when the space set up for that mourning is so thoroughly colonized? And how can I even see hope of living a full life when I don’t see myself reflected in what is supposed to be my community?

Don’t get me wrong, it’s important to honor those women who came before us, those women murdered by colonial patriarchy. But it seems like more often than not, the queer community at large is content with just remembering. We only hear about trans women after their deaths. And even our deaths are not our own. A week doesn’t go by without a white queer citing the deaths of trans women of color as the evidence of how oppressed they are. These stats are often used in service of their own assimilation; meanwhile, they’re happy to leave us out in the cold. We don’t even have dignity in death, nor the ability to decide what it will mean for us.

Via giveout.razoo.com

Support for trans women dwindles when we are still alive. Nowhere is this clearer than in fundraisers run by and for trans women. There have been some success stories, but they always seem to be few and far between. More often than not, a trans woman’s fundraiser will get a few signal boosts, maybe a couple of dollars and then languish. Meanwhile, trans men’s fundraisers for transition related care often get fully funded. This funding disparity is also clear institutionally, where organizations that focus on the concerns and issues of trans women of color get a miniscule amount of all the money from LGBTQ foundations. This is especially true in the South, where LGBT organizations only get 3-4% of domestic LGBT funding. Again, cis, white, rich institutions are quick to use our murders in their statistics then turn around and spend their money on organizations that look like them: cis, white, and rich. Organizations that push for assimilation.

Via americanprogress.org

Obviously financial support isn’t the be all end all action to support trans women of color, but it certainly doesn’t hurt. And the fact that it’s a struggle for trans women to acquire financial assistance is symptomatic of our society’s priorities. It points to who is valuable and who is disposable. At the bottom of this article is a list of fundraisers and organizations for trans women that I would strongly encourage you to support. If you’re not a trans woman and you’re reading this, think long and hard about the ways that you’re supporting trans women in your community. Do you see trans women in public community spaces? How are your actions pushing them out? Don’t think that just giving money nullifies your collusion in transmisogyny. Financial support is important but it is not the only step. As we honor the memory of those girls who have been murdered, ask how you’re helping the living.

Fundraisers to Cover Living Expenses

Via gofundme.com

Backing Biko Support Cherno Biko in advocating for folks like us!

Love Aaryn Help Aaryn reach her dreams!

Support CeCe Support CeCe’s work!

Lift Up Lourdes Support a trans leader!

Save Fake Cis Girl from Financial Apocalypse Help a trans woman of color keep her lights on!

Support Monica Roberts Help Monica stave off homelessness!

Operation Zipzap Help a trans woman go to electrolysis school!

Support Michelle Help Michelle get money to go to school!

Miss Major Monthly Giving Circle Help support a TWOC elder and living legend!

Fundraisers to Cover Transition Related Care

Via gofundme.com

TRANLATIN@ needs HELP for Surgery Help a Pervuian trans women get access to gender affirming surgery!

Support Vanessa on her medical need Help Vanessa get chest reconstruction surgery!

Proud Trans Latina seeking help with GRS Help Naiymah get access to gender affirming surgery!

Sophia’s Breast Fund Help Sophia access breast augmentation surgery!

Help a Homegirl out! Help a trans latina get access to transition related care.

Ida’s Surgery Fund Help writer and activist Ida access surgery!

Fundraisers for Organizations that Serve Trans Women

Via gofundme.com

Support the TWOC Collective The TWOC Collective in NYC needs your support!

Alexis Documentary Help a documentary about a trans woman activist get off the ground!

MagniFLY! Donate to support TWOC filmmakers!

Trans Tech Support an organization giving trans women the tools to support themselves!

Quirell Help a social network by and for marginalized folks get started!

El/La Para Trans Latinas Help fund an organization working to advocate for trans latinas!

Trans Latina Coalition Support an organization doing national movement work!

Support Casa Ruby Help a community center stay afloat!

My dad abruptly entered the hospital a couple of weeks ago, went into hospice, and died last night. I was fortunately able to be with him when he went, which I am VERY grateful for. He was very well cared-for while he was there, and died completely peacefully. My boyfriend and I hung out with him for a few hours until the body donation people came, and walked him out.

I am now dealing with figuring out what this does to me financially, because nothing helps grief like dealing with the SSA, and MASSIVE family drama over the inheritance, and trying to get bills put in my name when I have no money for deposits. Nobody knows what's going to happen with probate but it's looking like it's going to get really, really ugly.

We had JUST learned about special needs trusts and had begun the paperwork of creating one for me, to protect my inheritance, and dad went into the hospital just days before we were to sign and never regained the capability to do so. I am absolutely gutted. I was going to use that to help get us out of this hellhole state in a controlled fashion. We have to pay the lawyer for what he was able to do, which is get the house in my name.

So yes, good, the house is in my name now, but if my dad's bank accounts have been drained, I have no idea if I will inherit enough to be able to pay the mortgage, which is half my SSI income.

So we are going to need to ask for help, possibly a lot of help. Hundreds of dollars at least. I think around $400 for utility deposits, if nothing else.

My boyfriend's PayPal is [email protected], if you want to help and can afford to. I'll be putting up a sale link for his shop later, and if I can manage it, a post breaking down our expenses that we currently know about.

Right now I'm just...exhausted and sad.

Abusers and creeps are not some species of especially heinous animal or alien or monster wearing the face of a human. They're people. And you NEED to drill it into your head that they are people because you NEED to remember that people are capable of doingn heinous shit. And you are a person. And your loved ones are people.